Hey! Sorry, this is delayed but last week was pure hell at school with one assignment to be handed in plus a test every day. The positive part is that it is winter holiday so I had time to type up this chapter and plan more on the further one. As I have understood you all are going crazy with the suspense and I vow to you all you will get your answers sooner or later! –I am just going to chuck in some more twists before that- Ups, small spoiler there…

Huge shout-out to pumkingking 5 and guest reviewer Grace! Thank you so much for your encouraging words you both keep me going! Thank you to everyone who is favouriting/following the story/me, you are awsome! Enjoy!

Still feeling restless, I found my laptop and googled Royal College of Etrea and started reading about application rules. Their due date was February 1st for all applications and they accepted students from every country. I clicked on the admission tab and started reading. "Nationality. American," I said quietly to myself and clicked on it. "Age, seventeen. Name, Gabriella Montez." I filled out.

Monday December 31st
Gabriella's POV

For the past couple of days, it has been quiet around the castle. Troy and I had been spending most of our time together and here the other day we went riding again. This time he showed me another outlook point but over the city instead. Tonight it was New Year's eve and we were celebrating it with Alexander, Amelia, Jack, Lucille, Kathleen and Keith. I was currently in my room brushing my hair after the shower and I thought back to the story Troy had shared with me earlier in the day. They used to celebrate the holiday with Marcus and his parents and as I have understood Marcus was also an only child. The tradition had however stopped as they had to move away. What puzzled me about this, was that Marcus's father worked in some sort of government that Alexander ruled, which were based here in Iwaki. His father couldn't possibly commute every day could he?

Putting my brush down on the counter I walked over to my bed and picked up the red dress and put it on. It was a rather flowy dress that were fitted until just above the waist before it flared out and stopped at my knees. The dress had straps, but otherwise it was sleeveless. Knowing it was cold, I put on a pair of black wool stockings and a denim jacket. The last thing I added was the necklace Troy had given me for Christmas. I didn't know why, but I started feeling giddy about the evening. There was a soft knock on the door and I walked over, opening with a smile. Outside Troy stood dressed in grey trousers with a matching jacket and light blue shirt.

"Hey," he said looking at me. "Wow you look great," he told me smiling.

"Thank you, you look handsome," I told him with a smile of my own.

"So are you ready to head down for the celebration?" he questioned and I nodded stepping out of my room, closing the door behind me.

"More than ready," I told him confidently and together we walked towards the dining room.

"So I have a question," I stated looking at him. "Ok," he nodded.

"You told me how you used to celebrate new year's eve with Marcus and his family but it all stopped once he moved away," I stated and he nodded. "But didn't you also say that his dad was in some sort of government? And isn't Etrea a monarchy?" I questioned puzzled and Troy smiled clearly amused.

"Yes his dad is in the council and yes Etrea is a monarchy," he said and I was still just as confused. "Let me explain. Etrea is an absolute monarchy were the king holds all the power of the country, but at the same time a hereditary monarchy which means that the throne is passed down to the next member of the royal family," he said and I was confused.

"So," he continued going into greater detail. "when I take the throne after my father, the task of running everything is too big for just me. Therefore, it is normal to select people to run sectors like military, security, health, education and stuff like that. There are twelve different spots to fill and the king chooses who he thinks are the best fit. Then each of those twelve people talk to their groups again working on projects or ideas they have been assigned and every week or every other week they gather in meetings and the king ultimately approves or rejects the ideas," he explained.

"So as your grandfather is running the country what does your grandmother and the rest of you do?" "Sobo is helping my grandfather with different tasks such as running the culture post and to some extent foreign affairs. Both mom and dad is sitting in on the meetings that is held with the council and learning how the meeting are. I have been to a couple of them and it really isn't all that fun. The best part would be that we get to travel and see different parts of the wold learning about the different cultures," he told me and it all seemed so fascinating.

"Do you think a lot about the fact that you're going to run a country in the future?" I wondered and his whole face expression changed.

"Sometimes but more and more in the past couple of months," he admitted and I felt relieved that I hadn't said something hurtful. "Oh?" I questioned puzzled and he just nodded.

"The teachers are all talking about college applications and deadlines and I know that I have already been accepted into Royal College of Etrea since the day I was born. Marcus for an example is automatically accepted but he has to send in an application never the less. I guess I am a little jealous that he is not tied down to study anything, but he knows that he is accepted into one of the top schools. Whereas for me, I could potentially study what I want but there will be a hell coming with it," he said and I couldn't comprehend the information as I was shocked that Troy had just swore.

"I'm sorry," I told him quietly as my shock had worn off. He stopped abruptly looking at me his whole face expression softened. "Don't be," he told me shaking his head slightly. "You had no way of knowing and it is rather special for someone living abroad and especially in America. Even people living in Australia and Japan have a hard time grasping this idea," he told me and I nodded feeling better.

As we walked into the more formal dining room we were hit with the wonderful smell of food and the only thing it reminded me off was my mom's turkey. "Happy new year," Alexander greeted us with a smile as he saw us. "Happy new year," we both told him. I was just fascinated by the looks of the room. The ceiling was high and circular curved with a chandelier in the middle. The walls were white at the bottom and above a light blue colour with golden details beautifully painted all over the walls. The floor had to be some sort of white marble with black details creating a beautiful pattern.

"Lucille and Amelia just went down to check on dinner," Alexander informed us as the door opened and Jack walked inside along with Keith and Kathleen. "Happy new year," Kathleen said with a smile. Her dark brown hair was down and stopped at her shoulders where she was wearing a dark green top with a shawl covering her shoulders and a long fitted black skirt. "Happy new year," we all echoed and I just stood there soaking up the moment.

"Why don't we all take a seat and I believe dinner should be ready any minute?" Alexander announced and we all sat down. Alexander started opening a wine bottle and poured for all the adults who were seated.

"Do you want some Gabriella?" Alexander asked catching me off guard. For a split second I was shocked but then my mind caught up. Legal drinking age here were sixteen. "No thank you," I denied politely. "Troy?" "No thanks," he denied as well. Troy poured some soda for each of us as Lucille and Amelia entered the room with the dinner.

"Oh this smells heavenly," Kathleen told them as they put it down on the table. "I hope it tastes as good as it looks. Courtesy of Gabriella's recipe book," Amelia said and I could feel myself blush a little.

Looking at everyone around the dining table I noticed how Alexander were the only one wearing a black tux from the speech he gave earlier in the day, but Jack and Keith were both wearing a suit. Lucille was wearing a black lace top with a blue suit jacket over and a pair of black pants. Amelia was wearing a dark crimson coloured long sleeved dress.

As everyone had served themselves and I took the first bite it was just as good as what my mom made. "This tastes delicious," I told Lucille and Amelia and both of them smiled. "It indeed does," Kathleen agreed.

"That is lovely to hear and I do have to agree," Amelia said and we all continued to talk and laugh throughout the meal.

"Here, I brought some alcohol-free champagne," Troy told me handing over a glass. "Thank you," I said accepting it taking a sip before looking over at Iwaki.

Troy and I were standing outside on one of the many balconies overlooking Iwaki. It was beautiful with all the lights from the houses and downtown Iwaki where there was a huge gathering, much the same as the one on Time Square in New York after what I had understood.

"Ten… Nine…" we heard the countdown start and Troy took my hand.

"To a great new year," he smiled looking at me lovingly. "To a great new year," I replied.

"Five… four…" the chanting continued and before I knew it, Troy leaned in to kiss me tenderly.

"One… Happy new year!" we heard people cheer before it was drowned by the sound of the firework being shot up.

"Happy new year Brie," he told me and I felt a warmth spread through me after the kiss. "Happy new year Troy," I smiled and we each clinked our glasses lightly before taking a sip, both missing the smile that both Lucille and Amelia had as they had watched us from the balcony above.

I rested my head on Troy's shoulder and his arm was wrapped around my waist as we were watching to fireworks light up the sky.

"Thank you for everything Troy. This has been a wonderful Christmas and new year's eve," I told him and he smiled looking down at me.

"I am glad to hear that. I must admit I was a little apprehensive with my whole family and how you would all get along. I was surprised about how well you and Makayla got along especially," he told me honestly and I nodded.

"I was surprised too. Oh and by the way, she sent me a friend request on Facebook and she told me that they were going to adopt two of Misty's kittens once they were old enough," I informed him. "That is great news. I had a feeling Makayla fell head over heels in love with them," he said and I wrapped my hands more around myself.

"Are you cold?" Troy questioned wrapping his arms around me and I felt warmer at once. "A little. I'm not exactly used to these temperatures," I told him and he laughed softly. "Let's head inside," he proposed and we walked inside.

A beep was heard from my jacket pocket and took out my cell phone to see a text from mom which I read.

Happy new year hija! Hope you have a great time and I'll see you in a couple of days.
- Love mom

I smiled to myself and quickly sent a reply wishing her a happy new year despite her not ringing in the new years for another sixteen hours.

"So I know we just started the new year but we have to think about when we are heading back. School starts again next Monday," he said with a sigh and I giggled.

"Yeah. I hoped before the weekend," I said to him and he nodded. "I figured you wanted that so I thought about if we left early on the fourth we would be in Albuquerque the same day," he told me and I nodded.

"How early?" I questioned. "Probably be at the airport by six in the morning. If everything goes smoothly we could be in Albuquerque around four in the morning local time," he told me and I nodded. "That is early but okay," I said as we joined his family once again to continue the celebrations.

That was it! Hope you all liked it! Reviews are greatly apreciated

-FreeFlyingWriter